Faucet



(No Model.)

J. S. LESTER. FAUGBT.

No. 562,628. Patented June Z3, 1896.

ANDREW BLHAKAM PHUIO'UTHDWASMNGONADL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. LESTER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

FAUCET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 562,628, dated June 23, 1896.

Application led September 30,1895. Serial No. 564,189. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES LESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Faucet, of which the followingis a speciiication.

My invention relates to faucets, and particularly to closing mechanism therefor, the object in view being to provide an attachment for the ordinary screw-plug faucet tion, and the novel features thereof will beV particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attachment embodying my invention applied in the operative position to a faucet. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly-modified forni of the closing attachment applied in the operative position to a faucet. Fig. a is a detail view in perspective of the removable cap of the valvecasing, said cap forming a part of the attachment and being provided with shoulders to cooperate with another member of the attachment to secure the valve at the desired adjustment.

Similar :numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a faucet of the ordinary construction having a valve-casing 2, in which is threaded the plug-valve 3, said valve havin g the usual stem et, provided with a handle o. This valve-stem extends, as in the usual Iin Fig. 1, the tension of the spring is increased, and upon the release of the handle theswinging arm is returned to its normal position, by means of the spring, to close the valve.l

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the spring is coiled around the casing and is of the spiral or volute type, whereas in Fig. 3 I have showna coiled spring 11 of the contractile type secured at one end by means of an eye 12 to a hool; 13 on the lower end of the swinging arm 14, said swinging arm being secured to the stem of the valve in the manner above described and shown in Fig. 2.

In order to provide for lookin g the valve in its partly or wholly open position, I construct the cap 6 with a plurality of shoulders 15, at intermediate points, and 16 at the limit of the opening movement, for engagement by a locking-pin 1'7. The shoulder 16 projects radially a greater distance than the shoulders 15, whereby it is permanently in the path of the inner end of said locking-pin or swinging arm to check the movement of the valvestem when the handle is turned in the direction to open the valve, but the spring 1S, whereby said locking-pin is carried, normally holds the locking-pin pressed outward or from the shoulders 15 -to prevent engagement therewith. When itis desired to lock the valve at a given point to allow a continuous ilow through the faucet, the locking-pin is pressed inward into engagementwith the desired shoulder, and the frictional contact of the pin with the shoulder, caused bythe tension of the actuating-spring l0, holds the locking-pin in the engaging position.

When it is desired to release the locking-pin from the shoulder with which it is engaged, it is only necessary to grasp the handle 5 and turn it slightly forward to relieve the lockingpin of said pressure, whereupon the lockingpin will at once resume its normal or retracted position, and the handle will be free to turn to its closed position. The locking-pin is provided with a collar 19, against which the eye 2O at the free end of the spring 18 bears, said collar also serving to limit the outward or retracting movement of the pin.

IOO

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the spring-retracted locking-pin is omitted and in lieu thereof a pivotal latch 2On is mounted upon the arm 14, the free end of said latch being adaptedfor engagement with one of the shoulders 2l. on the periphery of the cap of the casing. When not desired to lock the valve in its open position, the latch 20 is adapted to occupy a pendent position. (Indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.)

From the above description, it Will be un derstood that the essential features of the attachment are the swinging arm carried by the stem of the valve and connected to a valveclosing spring whereby after opening the valve it is automatically closed when the handle is released; and a locking device vcarried by said arm and arranged in operative relation with a segmental series of shoulders in engagement with Which the looking device may be arranged when it is desired to provide a continuous iioW through the faucet Without manually holding the valve in its open position. Another essential feature of the invention resides in the fact that the locking device is normally held out of its engaging position, and automatically resumes its retracted position When relieved of the pressure caused by the valveeclosing spring. Thus, the valve can be locked in its open position only by actively manipulating the locking device, to avoid accidentally or carelessly leaving the valve open and thus allowing the supply of liquid to Waste.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. The combination with a valve having a rotary stem, ofja valve-closing spring connected with the stem, a locking-pin normally and yieldingly held in its retracted position, and a shoulder adapted to be engaged by said pin when actively advanced to an operative position, the pin being held advanced and in engagement With said Yshoulder by frictional contact therewith, substantially as specified. 2. The combination with a rotary valve having a stem, of a valve-closing spring connected with the stem, and a locking device having a pin and a spring for normally retract ing the pin, and spaced shoulders in engagement with Which the locking-pin may be arranged When advanced in opposition to the tension of its retracting-spring, substantially as specified.

The combination with a rotary valve having a stem, of an arm fixed to the stem of the valve, a valve-closing spring connected to said arm, a locking-pin fitted to slide in an opening in the arm and provided with a stop-collar, a retracting-spring carried by the arm and connected to the pin to normally hold the latter in its retracted position, a limitingshoulder l@ arranged permanently in the path of the loeking-pin or swinging arm to limit the opening movement of the valve, and intermediate shoulders l5 arranged out of the path of the locking-pin when the latter is in its normal position and adapted to bel engaged by said pin when the latter is advanced against the tension of its retracting-spring, substanl tially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence oi' two Witnesses.

JAIWIES S. LESTER. 

